Freshmen Earn Second Place at National FFA Fair

Aubri Van Dyke and Lauren Crider placed second nationally for a project testing urine as a fertilizer alternative.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Botany

Photograph of young green seedlings in dark soil on a wooden test bench beside clear glass vessels of pale amber liquid, with farmland and evergreen hills in soft daylight. — Two Washington high school freshmen, Aubri Van Dyke and Lauren Crider, placed second nationally at the 99th National FFA Convention for a project testing urine as a fertilizer alternative. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Two high school freshmen earned second place nationally for their Plant Science agriscience project, "The Golden Solution," at the 99th National FFA Convention and Expo held October 21-24 in Indianapolis. The project explored whether urine could serve as a viable alternative to traditional fertilizers.

Why it matters

The recognition highlights student-driven research into sustainable agricultural inputs, showing how young scientists can contribute ideas on soil nutrients and resource use. Their national placement reflects the competitive standards of the FFA agriscience program for students in grades 7 through 12.

The competition is judged across six categories and divided by grade level into divisions for grades 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12. Each winning student received a $750 prize, while the project's effectiveness as a fertilizer alternative has not been reported.

The players

National FFA Organization

The National FFA Organization is a youth organization that supports students interested in agriculture through leadership, career development and agriscience programs.

The details

Aubri Van Dyke and Lauren Crider were recognized on stage during the convention's fifth general session. The National FFA Agriscience Fair requires students to first win their state agriscience fairs before advancing to national pre-qualifying judging, where a panel reviews projects.

October 21-24, 2026: 99th National FFA Convention and Expo held in Indianapolis.
October 24, 2026: Students recognized during the convention's fifth general session.

Roadmap

The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students in grades 7 through 12 who conduct agriculture or food science research, requiring state wins before national competition. This placement follows that pathway by showing how early-career students can compete at the highest level of the program.

Research like this could eventually inform how farmers and gardeners reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, though the source does not establish a practical application. The project shows that agriscience competitions can surface ideas that merit further testing in real growing conditions.

The takeaway

Student research can surface new questions about sustainable farming, and competitions like the National FFA Agriscience Fair give young scientists a platform to pursue them. Interested readers can follow agricultural science developments to see whether such ideas advance beyond the classroom.